According to data from the Scholastic Teacher & Principal School Report: 2nd Edition, 86% of educators say their top COVID-19-related concern is the impact on students’ social-emotional wellness. This year, it is coupled with concerns around the impact of the annual “summer slide” on students’ learning gains.
Principal Kristin Ashley from Howard Elementary in the Green Bay, WI, area is just one of the many educators who have made it their mission to combat these concerns during the summer with programming aimed at helping students prepare for returning to school.
Principal Ashley’s six-week summer program known as Husky Academy incorporated Scholastic LitCamp to help students build their literacy skills and core social emotional strengths—belonging, curiosity, friendship, kindness, confidence, courage and hope.
Students enjoyed singing around a “literary campfire,” eagerly answering questions during interactive read-alouds, proudly sharing creative writing with peers, and diving into high-quality stories that highlight and foster core strengths. Students were also recognized and celebrated for displaying key core strengths each week.
One participating student shared: “The best part is being with family, and you are all my family!”
“This is why we continue to invest and build on our student belonging all summer,” says Principal Ashley. “This builds our school family and grows our legacy in literacy.”
Students not only maintained reading levels from the end of last school year, but are now confident and ready to start a new school year with a welcoming and encouraging culture of learning.
Click here to learn more about the profound and positive impact this program has had on students as they begin returning to school.
Image courtesy of Kristin Ashley
